The arbitration judge: Penalties BiH and Croatia will be a warning to others
The famous sports lawyer severely penalize BiH because of trampling the flag of Israel and Croatia because of the swastika on Poljud.
By: Ibrahim Sofić
The Disciplinary Commission of the European Football Association (UEFA) will impose a penalty on 23 July football associations Croatian and Bosnia and Herzegovina because of the incident of 15 June. Then the Poljud Stadium in Split (Croatia match - Italy) dawned Nazi swastika, while BiH. Fans ahead of the game with Israel trampled flag opponents, whistling during the national anthem and shouted racist comments.
Lucio Colantuono, an attorney in the international sport, a professor of sports law in Milan, and the judge and mediator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne (CAS), believes that will be imposed severe penalties, especially for Croatia due to frequent sentences in the past.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, adding that the possible deduction of points in qualifying for the European Championship 2016 in France.
"According to my experience as a judge of the CAS, expect strong and effective sanctions will be aimed not only to punish those responsible for the above incidents, but also to be the effect of a warning for all clubs and associations, as well as the mass of fans," said he said.
Colantuono: Prevention through education
"However, if UEFA decides on any penalties as long ban on playing in some fields or something more expressive, certainly there will be many complaints and controversy. However, we must all bear in mind that none of the sanctions, saying only cases of Croatian and Bosnia and Herzegovina, will not look like an unfair or disproportionate in the light of the urgency of UEFA and the national associations to fight for security and defense of the principles of sport and fair play, as well as to deal with discrimination. "
According to the rules
Colantuono stresses that any action on that decision European football house will not be unfair or disproportionate.
"In fact, it should be recalled, speaking of penalties to foreign UEFA Control, ethical and disciplinary body (CEDB) and generally all sports bodies, should take its decisions in accordance with the principles of proportionality of sanctions and fair decision-making. These principles, as well as the possibility of appeal before the CAS in Lausanne, they guarantee that all associations and clubs, to which a case refers, have the right to say what they have to defend themselves ", he said this was the sports lawyer.
He added that, "in light of all the above-mentioned" UEFA should do their best to "its members to fully act in accordance with the rules".
Balkan states in recent years are often the scene of incidents of racist or nationalist sign. Colantouni states that in Europe made great strides in the fight against racism, nationalism and discrimination in sport by adopting the PHARE program.
"However, other solutions may be established in order to cope with the present problems. A list of specific wealth is very long and can point out that many of these cases went through UEFA CEBD and arrived at the CAS and the decisions taken were correct and very strict. Notwithstanding earlier, reasonable to say that the regional competent institutions must carefully check any situation that may threaten the values of sport and human rights. "
"I personally hope that the earlier conditions that violate the European (and world) sports scenarios will not happen again, and this hope because of a desire for the good of the game, in the sport."
Gestures as examples
It is not just the responsibility of UEFA and the CAS to impose fines, but also on the authorities of the countries where national associations that are currently under investigation by the European football association due to the June incident.
"I think very useful to take actions as examples, which will not only impose a heavy, but also very effective sanctions. On the other hand, unfairly severe sentence may have the opposite effect and further complicate the situation. Disciplinary rules of UEFA provide a variety of measures that may be imposed on those who are found to be responsible for inappropriate behavior or racist appearances, and penalties can range from monetary fines to a game or a game with empty stands, "said Colantuono.
He explains that the weight of possible sanctions require a long time considering the arguments on all sides, so that's why the incident of 15 June decided more than a month later.
"The black hole of European football" is one of the epithets that are often heard in the Balkan region for football incidents of conflict (whether verbal or physical), and run policy in sport. The explanation for this state of affairs, believes the Italian professor, is in the nature and history of the Balkans.
"The Balkans has always, historically speaking, were sensitive geographical area, especially when looking at social themes for their geopolitical position. Unfortunately, because of this violence in public places common problem and this state was exhausting topic of discussion in the relevant institutions. It is accepted that football is reflected social instability, and an example of this is a global problem with hooligans, "said Colantuono.
Education and austerity
Further shows how many experts are looking strong intervention of the legal instances and representatives of association in order to effectively cope with violence in sport, "as in the Balkans and in the rest of Europe".
"Personally, I think it is important to make a start in action at the social level by the mass thoroughly on the fight against discrimination at a higher level. This can, for example, implemented through school education, the universities, and through work in the suburbs. But this is not a task only for the sports institutions. "
Colantuono says it is very important in the fight against crime, racism, discrimination and negative trends in the sport, do anything to prevent it in the beginning.
"This can be done only when society becomes aware of what is at risk from such things. When it's available right education, sports bodies (such as the UEFA) have issued very strict rules and be sure that it is implemented. "
"And the state, consequently, have with their national federations to monitor and ensure the sports arena, in an efficient manner and in accordance with European standards. An example of this is that UEFA, among other things, introduced a rule that domestic teams and clubs are responsible for order and security in and around the stadium before, during and after the match. In addition to this, governments should be given to this fight, along with sports and police authorities, "said Judge CAS at the end of the interview to Al Jazeera.
- 21 Jul, 2015
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